Beyonce described the soundtrack as a “love letter to Africa, adding: “And I wanted to make sure we found the best talent from Africa, and not just use some of the sounds and did my interpretation of it.

“I wanted it to be authentic to what is beautiful about the music in Africa.”

The album features a heavy use of drums, Beyonce said, as well as “incredible new sounds mixed with some of the producers from America”.

The Lion King: The Gift will be released on July 19, at the same time the film arrives in cinemas.